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Iran One Step Away From France '98
Tehran, Iran (October 17, 1997) Final Score: Iran 4 China 1 The stadium was filled up hours before the crucial Iran-China match. With purchase of each ticket, Iranian spectators got a free flag to wave in honor of their National Team. In a special section Chinese residents of Iran were allocated seats with security personal on all sides. It was a match that many Iranians will never forget. A bit over 100,000 people packed Tehran's Azadi stadium to watch Iran and China battle for a spot in France '98 World Cup. This was the second meeting between China and Iran. The first match was held in Dalian (China) in which Iran defeated China 4-2. It would be a game that could decide the fate of not only Iran and China, but the other teams in Group A (ie.Saudi Arabia and Kuwait). Qatar, the other team in this "Group of Death", has no chances to advance now. After the national anthems of both countries were played, the game between two of Asia's finest sides went underway. Playing for Iran were Ali Daie, Modir Rousta, Esteeli, Ali Reza Mansourian, Mehdi Mahdavi Kia, Reza Shahroudi, Karim Bagheri, Ostad Asadi, Afshin Payrovanni, Mohammad Khakpour, and goal keeper Ahmad Abedzadeh. Azizi did not start playing until second half when he came in for Modir Rousta. Iran was determined to win this match. It knew that would be the most challenging games of all the games they have played. Iran started the game with full force. Just three minutes into the game, just when the Chinese were getting used to the Azadi field, Iran scored their first goal! Iran had scored first in this game. The goal scorer was Ali Reza Mansourian. The goal was set up by Mahdavi Kia. Mahdavi Kia passed the ball to Ali Daei, who then made a brilliant side pass to running Mansourian. Mansourian shot it into the Chinese goal and Iran were already 1-0 ahead. They had virtually broken through China's solid defense line. After that goal China seemed never were able to catch up to the Iranians. China made some dangerous attacks after the Iranian goal, one of them being a shot in the penalty box that was saved by Iranian keeper and team captain Abedzadeh. Had it not have been for AbedZadeh's beautiful diving save, the game would have been tied. The Chinese goal keeper Ou Chu Liang fended off many dangerous Iranian attacks on his goal. But in minute 45 of the game, he made a mistake that put Iran 2-0 ahead. It was the last few seconds when Iran had a throw in. Shahroudi wasted no time and took it quickly. He gave the ball the Ostad Asadi who then took a long shot into the Chinese penalty box. The Chinese keeper made a mistake of coming out of his goal and attempted to catch Ostad's Asadi's long ball. He caught the ball, but bounced right back out of his arms into the control of Modir Rousta who was standing infront of him. Modir Rousta wasted no time and put the ball past the Chinese goal keeper. There were three Chinese defenders there but neither one could have saved China from conceding a second goal. Recall Modir Rousta had scored the final Iranian goal on China in the first game as result of defensive error where the defender failed to clear the ball and Modir Rousta took advantage of that and scored. The half time score was Iran 2 China 0. Iran had played a very fast game with great team work and excellent defensive line. The second half started with a bit more Chinese attacks on Iranian goal. The Iranian defense did not give in. The defensive line was organized and crucial in bringing the balls from the Iranian penalty box to the strikers in extremely short duration. Afshin Payrovanni played his best in this game. He did not make mistake of going to far out to create a gap that could be exploited by Chinese counter-attacks. The Iranians were playing at such high speeds that the Chinese were to busy defending, rather than trying to get back into the game. The 100,000 strong Iranian crowd was getting louder by the minute. Everyone anticipated a third Iranian goal. It would come in minute 68 of the match from, who else, Karim Bagheri. Karim Bagheri has scored 6 goals to date in these qualification games. He is the top scorer in Group A and a major component of the Iranian attacking machine. He is always at the right place at the right time. This goal was precisely that! It was somewhat similar to his goal against Kuwait. He was at the end of a pass in the Chinese penalty box. The goal keeper challenged him but Bagheri got to the ball before him and put ito the Chinese goal. Iran was now 3-0 ahead of Asian favorite China. Iran would not stop there. Brilliant game by Mahdavi Kia produced numerous oppertunities for the Iranian side. Ali Daei had the most chances. Most of his shots went centimeters off the Chinese goal. Mahdavi Kia was the fuel behind Iran's great speed and provided Iran with a strong right-wing. Mahdavi Kia was not supposed to play because of leg injuries. However, Iranian coach Mayeli Kohan decided that he was fit enough to play. Although the Chinese team was 3-0 behind, it played rather well against Iran. The passing was excellent and the skill levels of the players were high. The reason it didn't score goals was that the Iranian team was faster and had put up an "Iranian Wall", something like the Great Wall of China. It was very difficult to get past Khakpour, Ostad Asadi and Payrovanni. Ostad Asadi played extremely well for Iran and headed to safety many dangerous Chinese crosses in the Iranian penalty box. Iran would score their last goal through the "best Iranian player ever", Ali Daei. In minute 73, in a counter attack, Ali Daei was left uncovered by Chinese defenders. Up to that minute there had been atleast 3 defenders covering Daei's every move. In fact, he was fouled many times by the Chinese defenders, who were starting to get restless and frustrated.
Ali Daei took the ball, with no opposition, and shot it past the Chinese keeper with his left foot. It was a brilliant goal for a brilliant player! Iran were now 4-0 up. China's hopes were shattered. China attempted to score on some attacks, but the Iranian defense did not give in. The Chinese did manage to score a late goal and walk away from the match with something. Towards the end of the match, the Iranian defense slowed down, thinking that any minute the Lebanese referee Nabil Saad would blow the whistle. But they were proven wrong. China's goal came in the 87th minute when Mao Yi Jun scored from long range into the upper left corner of the Iranian goal. Abedzadeh had no chance. It was a beautiful shot. But it was too late for China. Iran won the match 4-1 and Iranians in Azadi stadium celebrated as though Iran had already qualified. Iran now have 11 points, 4 points ahead of second place Kuwait. Kuwait defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a rough and rugged game. The game was filled with fouls. Most of the fouls were committed by Saudi players. Saudi Arabia took the lead when they scored a goal by penalty kick. The half-time score was 1-0 for Saudi Arabia. Kuwait put more pressure in second half and scored equalizer. Then Kuwait scored the winning goal when a corner kick was headed into the Saudi goal. Ali Daeiyeh, the famous Saudi keeper, did not play in this match. The match got violent towards the end and two red cards were given out, one for Kuwait and one for Saudi Arabia. Kuwaiti player Bakheet tackled Saudi player from behind and got a red card. He then got into a fight with two Saudi players. The referee broke up the quarrel. Kuwait had managed to get revenge for their earlier lose in Riyadh. With this win, Kuwait jump from fourth place into second place. Saudi Arabia are in third place and China move down to fourth. Kuwait's games ahead are very difficult. It will meet Iran in Tehran on October 24th, and China in Beijing a few weeks down the round. Whats Next For Iran? Iran will meet Saudi Arabia on Friday October 24th in Riyadh. Iran hasn't played in Saudi Arabia since late 1970s. A win for Iran in that game is 90% qualification to France '98 World Cup! A tie will postpone Iran's fate till the Iran-Kuwait match a week after. If Iran wins against Kuwait, then Iran will qualify definately!! It all depends what the scores of the other teams will be when Iran has finished its game with Saudi Arabia. Iran has a momentum that is very hard to stop. Iran is just one step away from France '98!! |
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